Power Struggle

09.15.12

Japan to End Nuclear Power by 2030s

Toru Yamanaka, APF / Getty Images

Japanese government announced a dramatic change to its energy policy on Friday, promising to end nuclear power in the country by the 2030s. The move was in response to last year's forced evacuation of 160,000 people after the Fukushima nuclear power complex came close to meltdown. Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda noted that a large majority of Japanese citizens support the elimination of nuclear power from their country. The new proposal calls for investing $500 billion dollars in renewable energy sources, like solar and wind power, over the next 20 years.